WASHINGTON: The decision to grant US citizenship to Dr Shakil Afridi, the man who allegedly helped the US in tracking down Osama bin Laden, has not been finalised, said US State Department Spokesperson Victoria Nuland on Monday.
A US Congressman had tabled a bill on Sunday to the House of Representatives asking that Dr Afridi be ranted citizenship, calling for the doctor to be deemed “a naturalised citizen of the United States.”
Afridi is under arrest in Pakistan and had allegedly organised a polio vaccination campaign in Abbottabad for the Central Intelligence Agency, in order to collect DNA sample to prove that the al Qaeda leader was present in the Abbottabad compound.
Nuland, in the daily press briefing, said: “Congress resolution which is moving through the Congress now, it is not finalised yet. But generally, these kinds of moves on behalf of individuals… don’t have force of law. It’s a recommendation.”
When asked about a ‘Pakistani lobbyist’ in the US who allegedly wrote a letter to the US officials to apologise on behalf of Pakistan on the November 26 Nato attack, Nuland clarified that there were no lobbyists being used for communication between the two states.
“We do our business with Pakistan through our representatives in Islamabad and throughout the country as well as through the Pakistani Embassy here,” she said.
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Pakistan gave them permission to search for OBL . They been getting paid in billions we can't hide that. Pakistan killed innocent Pashtuns civilian and let OBL be in safe haven . Any how I know about Dr shakeel he used to live in lodhi near to San Fransico he got to US on Green Card his wife is also US citizen that make him automatically eligible to US citizen. He worked under war satiation that should keep him in status for permeant residency.(like non-US citizen soldiers in US army).
@Wazir Afridi: You really think that Pakistan can keep an eye out for every criminal and fighter who has fled Afghanistan and is hiding in Pakistan? Does Pak have the resources? Do you forget that OBL and other fighters were brought in from foreign countries by Americans who used them to kick out the Soviets. Then these same extremists went rogue but the West abandoned them in the region. Is it not conceivable that some low level operatives who were helping him fight the Russians might still have been helping him without the knowledge of Pak army and Pak government when there are so many challenges in the country? When any Pakistani citizen spies for a foreign country to do acts on Pakistan's soil without government knowledge, you can't tell why Pak government would be upset? That too when US and Pak should be allies working together. What if UK or US ally uses US citizens behind US back without US government knowledge and does acts on US soil? Will US be happy then? Of course not, they will say it is a violation of sovereignty. Don't cast aspersions on majority of Pakistani military and intelligence including the many Pashtun who stand up for the nation's dignity.
Why pakistan didn't try any thing to search for OBL ? pakistan support him to live in safe house with max security. Dr Shakeel was not the only Pashtun working in CIA team to search for OBL . After cold war handers of Pashtun are working in CIA , special after swat valley satuation. If Dr Shekeel get not free it will cost pakistan a lot. Pakistan already in danger for Pashtunistan war.
Funny how when somebody breaks laws in Pakistan, the US will intervene and whisk him away to safety, reverse that to some Pakistani breaking a law in America (caught spying?) would the royalty in the unites states of America let Pakistan interfere? Would Pakistan even THINK of interfering? (Aafia Siddiqi comes to mind.) The double standards, Afridi should be hanged...twice.
@vasan + salim Gentlemen we have certain laws that are followed. We may disagree but it is no good. Let the Ab. Commission report come and then criminal charges filed against the law breakers. I believe that there was no criminal case against OBL in Pakistan. Your so called "good doc" broke the law and that why is in jail. Kindly note that DR Ghulam Nabi Fai
s was arrested for purportedly threatening US national security and having alleged links to the ISI. As director of the Kashmiri American Council, Dr Fai had been working for projecting the cause of Kashmirs freedom to the American people. The prosecutors alleged that Dr Fai, acted in a manner that tried to hide Islamabad`s involvement in efforts to influence US policy on Kashmir through organisations which were funded by the ISI. The Americans and Russians have exchanged spies, maybe we should also look at some deal!We should be ashamed of what we did, we “failed” to get OBL for years even after receiving billions of dollars to do so from the US (not to mention thousands of Pakistanis who were killed for this war involving OBL). Instead of rewarding Dr. Afridi, we are trying him for treason? Bravo Afridi what you did was a heroic endeavor.
The Americans can do whatever they want -- granting Dr Afradi citizenship? Dr Afradi happens to be a Pakistani and has breached our law. Spying is a serious crime and could be hanged. He is also committed a serious crime by jeopardising the polio campaign and God knows how many children will be become polio victims by his false campaign, NO PUNISHMENT CAN'T AVERT THIS DISASTER IN MAKING. Let's pray that this traitor's deeds don't ruin lives of our kids! HE SHOULD BE MADE AN EXAMPLE BY AWARDING EXEMPLARY PUNISHMENT TO DETER FUTURE SPIES!
The only way out for Afridi is to grant him US citizenship. This must have been suggested by our keepers. 50 million dollars plus all which was announced on OBL fate is not a hidden fact so US will ensure this man lands in US safe and sound. This case is more strong than Raymond's case. We all know who were behind his safe exit.
This guy has also destroyed whole polio campagin in Pakistani rural areas...........he must be hanged more than once.........traitor
By granting him US citizenship, US is trying to justify spying in other countries is a legitimized act
This traitor Afridi should not be allowed to leave Pakistan and should be hanged for TREASON